Twilight Sparkle: Well, I'm not one to dwell on the past, and neither should you. The castle is your home now, and as far as being my pupil goes, I was just trying to figure out what your first friendship lesson should be!

Starlight Glimmer: I know I'm just learning about friendship, but I didn't think there were this many lessons for anything. How do we choose?

Twilight Sparkle: Maybe I should pare things down a bit before we go through them. Why don't you join the others in the throne room? They're planning our trip to the Crystal Empire when Shining Armor and Princess Cadance have their baby!

Rainbow Dash: Well, I think we should leave ASAP. I don't want to miss the Crystalling!

Fluttershy: But, um, shouldn't we wait for the invitation?

Applejack: Frankly, I'm not exactly clear on all the customs and traditions of the Crystal Empire, especially when it comes to a Crystalling.

Starlight Glimmer: What's a Crystalling?

Rarity: Well, that's just it, darling. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor's baby is due any day, and we're still not sure. The Crystal Empire was gone for a thousand years. A lot of their customs are a bit murky.

Applejack: We know it's got somethin' to do with the new baby.

Pinkie Pie: [quickly] And a party!

Fluttershy: And the Crystal Heart.

Pinkie Pie: [quickly] And a party!

Rainbow Dash: And some kinda cool energy.

Pinkie Pie: And... a party!

[confetti explosion]

Spike: It's not hard to understand. Most things in the Crystal Empire aren't. Like how I'm a big hero there, for example!

Rarity: [stifled giggle]

Spike: Eh... plus, I've had to help Twilight do a lot of research on Crystallings. Whenever a baby is born in the Crystal Empire, the parents bring it before the Crystal Heart. They get the purest shard of crystal they can find, then pick a crystaller to present the baby to everypony who comes. Then they all share the light and joy they feel, feeding it into the crystal that joins with the Heart, and increases its power! And this is going to be a royal Crystalling, so pretty much the whole empire will show up. That hasn't happened in a millennia!

Starlight Glimmer: What do you mean it increases the Crystal Heart's power?

Spike: The energy it uses to protect the Crystal Empire, I guess.

Starlight Glimmer: Protect it from what?

Spike: I... didn't help Twilight with that part.

[paper rustling]

Starlight Glimmer: Hey, Twilight, can I ask you something about the Crystal Empire?

Twilight Sparkle: Huh! Funny you should mention it. Because I just narrowed your first friendship lesson down to three options, and one of them is in the Crystal Empire!

Starlight Glimmer: Really?

Twilight Sparkle: I found out that's where the first pony you ever cared about lives!

Starlight Glimmer: Sunburst?

Twilight Sparkle: Of course, that's just one idea. We could also go to Griffonstone. [begins fading out] Making friends with a griffon is a challenge all by itself! Or we could tag along with the CMC's the next time they try to help a pony figure out why they're special...

[high-pitched ringing]

Twilight Sparkle: [normal] Starlight? Is something wrong?

Starlight Glimmer: What? O-Oh, no, heh, those all sound great!

Twilight Sparkle: I know! I guess you were right – it is gonna be hard to choose one!

Starlight Glimmer: [laughs nervously] ...Yeah.

[door opens]

[clatter]

[magic noises]

[door closes]

[door opens]

[beat]

Starlight Glimmer: Ugh! I am never gonna find my way around this place!

Spike: Gee, Starlight, what's wrong?

Starlight Glimmer: I don't know, Spike. Twilight's figuring out what my first friendship lesson is, and I guess I'm not exactly thrilled with the options. Well... with one of them.

Spike: Which one?

Starlight Glimmer: Reuniting me with my first friend.

Spike: What's so terrible about that?

Starlight Glimmer: [sighs] [narrating] When we were foals, Sunburst knew everything there was to know about magic. He always knew just what to do. And he was always there to help me. I guess it's not surprising that Sunburst got his cutie mark in magic and... went off to Princess Celestia's school. But when he left...

Spike: You blamed cutie marks and stripped a whole village of theirs, and when Twilight and the others stopped you, you went back in time and almost destroyed Equestria.

Spike: Well, if Sunburst is that good at magic, maybe he'd appreciate your, uh... [clears throat] exploits. You should talk to Twilight about it. I'm sure she'd want to hear what you have to say.

Starlight Glimmer: I know. But I don't want her to think I'm not ready to learn or that I'm not grateful for everything she's doing.

Twilight Sparkle: Spike! Come quick!

[wind blowing]

Spike: It's a Crystalling invitation!

Twilight Sparkle: Shining Armor's a father! I'm an aunt! Well, this settles it! Since we're going to the Crystal Empire, your first friendship lesson is going to be... reuniting with Sunburst!

Starlight Glimmer: Great...

[train whistle]

Rainbow Dash: [yawn] Um, Applejack, what is that?

Applejack: Oh, just a little somethin' for the young'un. Made from genuine Sweet Apple Acres apple trees. We make 'em for all the Apples, and anypony related to Twilight is practically family.

Rainbow Dash: Yeah, it's okay... But it's no Cloudsdale mobile! Bam!

Pinkie Pie and Rarity: Ooh!

Pinkie Pie: Pretty!

[shatter]

Applejack: Well, a mobile is real nice... as long as you have somethin' to lay in so you can look at it.

Rarity: And a fetching blanket to keep you warm.

Twilight Sparkle: I'm sure Shining Armor and Princess Cadance will love all our gifts. But I think they're more happy we'll be attending the baby's Crystalling.

Pinkie Pie: Ooh! I can't wait to see all that light and love make the Crystal Heart even more sparkly and shiny!

Twilight Sparkle: Actually, Pinkie, the Crystal Heart is an ancient and powerful relic. Without its magic, the Crystal Empire would be lost to the Frozen North.

Starlight Glimmer: Wow, this Crystalling sounds pretty important. I'd understand if you wanted to... you know... wait to do a different friendship lesson when we get back.

Twilight Sparkle: Are you kidding? This trip is perfect! Not only do I get to see the baby and take part in the ceremony that helps maintain the magic of the Crystal Empire, but I'm starting my new pupil off with the most amazing friendship lesson ever! I can't wait!

Twilight Sparkle: Oh, trust me. I know what it's like to see old friends. But I'll be right there to help things along. I've broken the whole lesson down into a few easy steps to ensure this reunion goes off without a hitch!

Starlight Glimmer: [laughs nervously]

[train chuffing]

Twilight Sparkle: [reading] Step one, head to Sunburst's house and get you two started on the right hoof. Step two, get to the castle with enough time to visit the ba—

Shining Armor: [tired] Never better! Being a father is amazing! And wonderful, and amazing, and confusing, and amazing, but surprising too, you know? I mean, not that you'd know. You wouldn't know, I know... You know? [beat] Sorry. I haven't really slept since Cadance had the baby. Come to think of it, she hasn't either. It sure would be great to get a break.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh, of course! I don't know what I was thinking! You two probably need all kinds of help! I'm sorry, Starlight, but I guess combining your first lesson with this visit wasn't such a good idea.

Starlight Glimmer: Oh, uh, don't be ridiculous! You're an aunt now! That's way more important than some friendship lesson.

Twilight Sparkle: I just wish there was a way to do both.

Spike: Maybe there is! You've already done the work for Starlight's lesson with this list. All we have to do is follow it!

Princess Celestia: In light of the little one's abilities, this Crystalling might be more important than ever. [to Cadance] Perhaps you should address your subjects and remind them of that.

Princess Cadance: Hm. [kisses]

Flurry Heart: [baby noise]

Shining Armor: [snoring]

Twilight Sparkle: Shining Armor! Do you have everything you need for the ceremony?

Shining Armor: [tired] Huh? Oh, no! I still have to interview the honor guards, choose the purity crystal, and pick a crystaller!

Twilight Sparkle: Alright, take it easy. Pinkie can stay here with me and keep an eye on the baby.

Pinkie Pie: [squee]

Flurry Heart: [giggles]

Applejack: And we'll all help you with everythin' else.

Shining Armor: [snores] ...baby...

Rarity: That is, if you can stay awake long enough to tell us how.

Spike: ...and that's how we found the Crystal Heart, defeated King Sombra, and saved the Empire.

[Crystal Ponies cheering]

"Cloudy Spinel": We love you, Spike!

"Coral Shores": Yeah. Tell the one about the Equestria Games!

Spike: Well, as much as I love reliving my heroic deeds, Starlight and I have an important lesson to do, by order of the Princess of Friendship!

Foals: Awwww!

Starlight Glimmer: Aw, come on, Spike! I want to hear about the Games too!

[scribbling]

Spike: I know you're nervous about seeing Sunburst, but it says right in step 3, to, uh, "Deal with your fears by facing them, not by putting it off."

Starlight Glimmer: Ugh. Let's go get this over with.

Spike: Wait!

Starlight Glimmer: Huh? What?!

Spike: Knocking on the door isn't the next thing on the list!

Starlight Glimmer: Seriously?

Spike: I know Twilight can be a little nitpicky, but this is your first lesson as her pupil, and it's important that we do it right!

Starlight Glimmer: Fine. What's the next thing on the list?

Spike: [clears throat] [reading] "Before they see each other, be sure to highlight the importance of the meeting."

Starlight Glimmer: I'm pretty sure we can skip that.

Spike: I don't know... I mean if we skip it, the whole lesson could go south! And then you might end up taking a giant step backwards instead of forwards! Maybe you'll never be able to learn anything about friendship at all! It's almost like your whole future depends on this moment. [beat] "Highlight the importance of the meeting" – check! I can't believe you wanted to skip that!

[knocking]

[long beat]

[door opens]

Starlight Glimmer: Sunburst?

Sunburst: Yes? What can I do for you?

Starlight Glimmer: It's... It's me, Starlight. We used to be friends?

Sunburst: [beat] Oh, of course! S-Starlight! My goodness, it-it's been a long time! What, uh, what have you been up to?

Starlight Glimmer: Me? Oh! You know, some of this, some of that, different... stuff. Right now, I'm sort of Twilight Sparkle's new pupil.